During our school days, children in the developing and developed world could not even dream about getting a chance to look through a professional telescope; forget about playing with it for real observations! Those days, only the best professional astronomers/astrophysicists had access to such telescopic sites and networks. However one can notice that in some European countries, there are more opportunities (compared to other countries in the world) for school students to visit observatories and planetariums and thereby interact with real astronomers and look through a telescope on a good weather day/night (if one is lucky!). Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has a long standing legacy in welcoming thousands of visitors of all ages and backgrounds over the years for astronomical tours and astronomical experiences.

The Sombrero Galaxy: Images obtained by Northern Irish work experience students using Faulkes Telescope South at Siding Spring, operated by Las Cumbres Observatory. (Image credits: Armagh Observatory and Planetarium)

However for a school kid to operate a real professional telescope and undertake real observations of a celestial object, one fancies, is still an extremely rare or practically impossible occurrence in the global scene. Making this possible is where the Faulkes Project is unique and has revolutionised the concept of astronomical outreach to school pupils.

Over the years, the Faulkes Project, which comprises two separate 2-metre class telescopes (one situated in Hawaii and another in Australia, operated through Las Cumbres Observatory based in the US, with the network now expanded by Las Cumbres to include several 1-metre and 40-cm telescopes), has provided countless opportunities for Northern Irish school students through the Project’s nodal points (one being Armagh Observatory and Planetarium) to experience the wonders of our night sky and celestial objects. Many school students had their first time hands-on experience in learning from astronomers about professional astronomical observations and operating a world class telescope in both the northern and southern hemispheres of our planet. Only very few students in the world get such privileged opportunities at such a young age!

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is the target of the Rosetta mission. Image obtained by Northern Irish work experience students using the Faulkes Telescope North at Haleakala, operated by Las Cumbres Observatory. (Image credits: Armagh Observatory and Planetarium)

There are plenty of examples of Northern Irish school kids who have made observations of moving comets and asteroids and thereby updating their latest astronomical coordinates at the International Astronomical Union-Minor Planet Center, which is the official record keeper of solar system small bodies. This exciting experience of learning more about the cosmos and contributing towards the betterment of its understanding at such a defining age has had a significant impact in propelling them towards a life with more scientific vision and taking up STEM careers later in life.

The Dumbbell Nebula is a planetary Nebula, (M27). Images obtained by Northern Irish work experience students using the Faulkes Telescope North at Haleakala, operated by Las Cumbres Observatory. (Image credits: Armagh Observatory and Planetarium)

All these life changing experiences for school kids were possible only because of the generous patronage (worth of millions of dollars in monetary value and absolutely priceless in social welfare value!) of Dr Martin Faulkes. In the present global climate of austerity and budget cuts in science and education, it is difficult to predict how long such international astronomy related outreach projects would exist.

Asteroid 23593 images obtained by Northern Irish work experience students using the Faulkes Telescope North at Haleakala, operated by Las Cumbres Observatory. (Image credits: Armagh Observatory and Planetarium)

Perhaps it is a good time for some science loving influential patrons based in Britain and Ireland to invest in such fantastic astronomical outreach projects and thereby facilitate such stellar opportunities for more and more school students every year. Spreading the magic of the cosmos to pristine young brains is perhaps the best celestial karma a human can do!!!

Welcome to Astronotes

Hello, I’m Heather, welcoming you to Astronotes, the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium’s official blog. Here you will find the latest news and views from all those who work in our organisation, from the fascinating worlds of astronomy and space exploration. We hope you will come here to learn what is hot and exciting, profound or even weird from worlds beyond ours .
So that's the introduction out of the way, now on with the Universe!

Enter the Archives!

Enter the Archives!

Astronotes is one of top 60 space blogs!

Subscribe to Astronotes

* indicates required

First Name

Last Name

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you're human:

Visit Our Main Website

Armagh Observatory opened in 1790

Armagh Planetarium opened in 1968

Professor Louise Harra

Director of Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Michael Burton, on top of Mopra Rock in the Warrumbungles National Park of New South Wales. The 22m diameter Mopra radio telescope, star of the tale told here, lies below and behind him. (image credit: Michael Burton)